Last month, the firm announced it was to close its dessert factory in Staverton, near Trowbridge, Wiltshire, with the loss of 150 jobs.

It claims the plant has been running below capacity for a number of years.

But the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) says the company has failed to provide evidence that the factory is not profitable.

After a meeting with Nestlé executives, Brian Revell, T&G national organiser for food and agriculture, said: "What is clear to us is that we are dealing with a fait accompli."

The T&G wants the closure to be referred to the Nestlé European Works Council, and plans to take its fight to local MP Andrew Murrison and the South West Regional Development Agency.